Rein: MS and Sony "Fully Embracing" F2P For Next-Gen

According to Epic Games' VP Mark Rein, Microsoft and Sony are informing developers that they're "going heavily" in on free-to-play and in-app purchasing models when it comes to their next-gen consoles.

"The next-gen consoles are going to be fully embracing the free-to-play and these IAP-type business models," Rein stated at a roundtable at this year's GameHorizon.

"So in case you don't know that I'm putting that out there. Sony and Microsoft are both going heavily in that area."

Matt Martin of GamesIndustry International, who was chairing the event, said that both platform holders have been making noises about new pricing models, but that "we still need to see some kind of evidence."

Sony's Shuhei Yoshida has already pointed towards an in-house free-to-play title in development for the PS4, and the company is already exploring more flexible models with things like Uncharted 3's transition into F2P and the subscription based service that is Playstation Plus. Microsoft themselves have already debuted an F2P game on Xbox LIVE this generation.

We're firm believers that these models can be used in positive ways (check out our recent podcast on the matter), but there are still far too many examples of games being monetised at the expense of good design. Here's hoping that the revelation of some of these plans at E3 might attempt to turn the cynical tide.[via Joystiq]